National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser has written letters to his counterparts in 178 parliaments all over the world to bring to their attention the deteriorating situation in South Asia and the recent aggressive acts of India in Kashmir.

In his letter, the speaker wrote about the continuous violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity by India, which had brought the region to the brink of war and devastation.

“In the early hours of February 26, 2019, Indian aircraft violated Pakistan’s airspace on the pretext of attacking an alleged terrorist camp. Indian planes were effectively intercepted by the Pakistani Air Force (PAF) jets and forced to withdraw while randomly releasing their ordnance that landed in Pakistan’s uninhabited remote area,” he added.

He said Pakistan strongly rejected the purported Indian claims of having targeted any installation and resultant casualties. “It is completely absurd and is based on false narrative designed to placate domestic audience. Pakistan, while reserving its right to respond against Indian aggression, kept its calm and warned India to avoid further escalating the situation.”

The speaker said, “India continues with its unprovoked ceasefire violations along the Line of Control in the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in deaths of several innocent civilians.

“On February 27, 2019, the IAF once again violated Pakistan’s airspace which was efficiently retaliated by Pakistan with the shooting down of two intruding Indian fighter aircraft. An IAF pilot, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, was arrested by the Pakistani forces when his military jet MiG-21 crashed in Pakistan-controlled Azad Jammu and Kashmir.”

He said in captivity, the Indian pilot was treated with dignity and in line with international laws.

Prime Minister Imran Khan announced his return as a goodwill gesture aimed at de-escalating rising tensions with India, he added.

Qaiser said this noble gesture clearly established that Pakistan had no intention of escalation, but as a self-respecting nation was prepared to do so if forced into that paradigm.

For the last few years, India had been trying to establish what they call “a new normal” – a thinly veiled term for doing acts of aggression at whatever pretext they wish on a given day. If India was striking at so-called terrorist backers without a shred of evidence, Pakistan also retained reciprocal rights to retaliate against elements that enjoy Indian patronage while carrying out acts of terror in Pakistan, he added.

He stated that Pakistan did not wish to go to that route and desired that India would give peace a chance and resolve issues through dialogue as a mature democratic nation. The deteriorating situation between Pakistan and India could only be normalised by amicably resolving the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. Otherwise, peace in the region would remain an elusive dawn.

He said PM Imran offered peace and dialogue soon after his election and took a great leap forward by opening the “Kartarpur Corridor” between the two countries, enabling Indian citizens to freely visit their sacred places of worship, situated on Pakistan’s side of border.

India, however, had not any inclination and was making every effort to divert the international community’s attention to hide its cruelties in Indian Occupied Kashmir. India had also been indulging in the senseless attempt to portray the indigenous Kashmiri movement for self-determination as terrorism.

The speaker also shared the copy of the unanimous resolution passed by a special joint-session of Pakistan’s parliament calling upon the international community to play its due role in bringing peace to South Asia.